breɪn n. & v. --n. 1 an
organ of
soft nervous tissue contained in
the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the coordinating
centre of
sensation,
and of
intellectual and nervous
activity. 2 (in pl.) the
substance of the brain,
esp. as
food. 3 a a person's intellectual
capacity (has a
poor brain). b (often in pl.)
intelligence;
high intellectual capacity (has a brain;
has brains). 4 (in
pl.; prec. by the) colloq. a the cleverest
person in a
group. b a person
who originates a
complex plan or
idea (the brains
behind the robbery). 5 an
electronic device with functions
comparable to
those of a brain. --v.tr. 1
dash out the brains
of. 2
strike hard on the
head. øbrain-dead suffering
from brain
death. brain death
irreversible brain
damage causing the
end of
independent respiration, regarded as
indicative of death. brain
drain colloq. the
loss of
skilled personnel by emigration. brain
fever inflammation of the brain. brain-pan colloq. the skull. brain stem the
central trunk of the brain,
upon which the
cerebrum and
cerebellum are set, and which continues downwards to
form the
spinal cord. brains (US brain)
trust a group of experts who
give impromptu answers to questions, usu. publicly. brain-teaser (or -twister) colloq. a
puzzle or
problem. brain trust US a group of
expert advisers. on the brain colloq. obsessively in one's thoughts. [OE brógen f. WG]